Braver Angels

What Braver Angels does

Braver Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 (originally as Better Angels, rebranded April 2020) and headquartered in New York City. Its mission is to reduce political polarization in the United States by bringing together self-identified liberals ("Blues") and conservatives ("Reds") in structured, balanced small-group settings. It operates through 129 local alliances across all 50 states, hosting 7,124+ events annually and engaging 71,134 cumulative participants, with 14,739 active members as of the most recent disclosures.

The organization's product portfolio is dominated by facilitator-led workshops (Red/Blue Workshop, Depolarizing Within, Disagreeing Better, Common Ground, Families and Politics), parliamentary-style Braver Angels Debates, and structured 1:1 Conversations, supported by free online eCourses (~40 minutes each). Its most differentiated technology product is the Depolarization Dōjō, an AI-powered text-based training platform featuring realistic AI personas representing voices across the political spectrum, providing real-time coaching on listening skills. Vertical-specific programs include Braver Politics (elected officials), Braver Education (K-12 and university), Braver Faith, Braver Arts, and Braver Media (podcasts, documentary, Substack). The co-founder Bill Doherty developed the proprietary workshop methodology that underpins the curriculum.

Braver Angels generates operating revenue through three streams: individual memberships starting at $12/year (~38% of the FY2022 budget), foundation grants split ~60% left-of-center and ~40% right-of-center to preserve cross-partisan credibility, and one-time donations of $12 or more that convert into annual memberships. It distributes through volunteer-led in-person alliances, a national online events platform, the Braver Network of 300+ partner organizations, and educational institution partnerships. The 2022 operating budget was $4.4M, with member dues/gifts up 20% year-over-year and 73% of funding directed to grassroots programming.

Name

Braver Angels

Legal name

Braver Angels

Website

https://braverangels.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Braver Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that reduces US political polarization through cross-partisan workshops, debates, 1:1 conversations, and an AI coaching platform, serving individual Americans, students, faith communities, and elected officials across all 50 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership subscriptions starting at $12/year. In 2022, member dues and gifts represented 38% of the $4.4M budget, a 20% increase from 2021. Members receive newsletters, convention access, skills training, and leadership development.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and potentially foundations. One-time donations of $12+ receive a one-year membership voucher. Donors giving $1000+ receive lifetime membership and President's Circle invitation.
3. Foundation Funding: Foundation funding split approximately 60% left-of-center and 40% right-of-center foundations, maintaining political balance. In 2022, 73% of funding directly supported grassroots programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Braver Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit citizens movement that reduces political polarization in the United States through structured workshops, parliamentary-style debates, 1:1 conversations, eCourses, and an AI-powered training platform called the Depolarization Dōjō. The organization operates through 129 local alliances across all 50 states, plus vertical-specific programs for education, faith communities, politics, arts, and media.

Product overview

Braver Angels is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs for bridging political divides, not a unified software product. The core offerings include workshops (Red/Blue Workshop, Depolarizing Within, Disagreeing Better, Common Ground, Families and Politics), 1:1 Conversations, and Braver Angels Debates. Supporting these are digital learning products: eCourses (free online courses) and the Depolarization Dōjō (AI-powered training platform with realistic AI personas). Vertical-specific programs include Braver Politics (for public officials), Braver Education (for schools/universities), Braver Faith (for religious communities), and Braver Arts (music, theater, film). Braver Media produces podcasts, newsletters, and documentaries. Additional offerings include Clubs and Caucuses (special interest groups), Citizens Commission on Immigration, Trustworthy Elections Initiative, and the Civic Scholars Council. The organization operates through local Alliances and a national network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Red/Blue Workshop
• Depolarizing Within Workshop
• Disagreeing Better Workshop
• Common Ground Workshop
• Families and Politics Workshop
• 1:1 Conversations
• Braver Angels Debates
• eCourses
• Depolarization Dōjō
• Braver Politics
• Braver Education
• Braver Faith
• Braver Arts
• Citizens Commission on Immigration
• Trustworthy Elections Initiative
• Civic Scholars Council
• Braver Angels National Convention

Quantifiable outcome

• After a 1:1 Conversation, 97% say they found common ground
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Dignity Index Summit ParticipantsminorOthers · 20 October 2025Summit participants at Salt Lake Hilton including Tim Shriver focused on free speech, censorship, and contempt issues.
• One Small StepcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2025Participated together in inaugural Bridging Movement Summit at George Washington Presidential Library. Both organizations in the Bridging Space working on depolarization.
• BridgeUSAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHonorary Co-Chair partnership. BridgeUSA is a cross-partisan student organization working on college campuses. Joint College Debates & Discourse program with ACTA.
• Institute for Local GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Braver Network focusing on local government civic engagement and collaboration.
• StoryCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Bridging Movement Summit and bridging space initiatives. StoryCorps helps participants engage across ideological divides.
• BridgeUSA (with ACTA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege Debates & Discourse partnership between Braver Angels, BridgeUSA, and ACTA providing curricular toolkit and campus debate programming.
• MIT Center for Constructive Communication / CorticocoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner in Braver Network focusing on constructive communication and local conversation ecosystem development.
• Dignity.Us / UNITEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator of the Dignity Index; joint government and corporate partnerships; co-sponsored events on patriotism in schools.
• New York Theatre WorkshopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Mind The Gap inter-political theater program where participants interview across the divide and turn stories into performances.
• More in CommoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBraver Network partner organization focused on understanding and bridging divides across communities.
• AllSidescoreTechnology or IntegrationBraver Network partner providing balanced news and information across political perspectives.
• Listen First ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBraver Network partner focused on listening-based approaches to bridging political divides.
• Living Room ConversationsStrategic or Co-development PartnerBraver Network partner enabling peer-to-peer conversations across divides.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AllSides: AllSides provides balanced news, media bias ratings, and perspectives from across the political spectrum to reduce polarization. It overlaps with Braver Angels' media and perspective-bridging activities, although its core product is information rather than facilitated dialogue.

Direct peers

• Constructive Dialogue Institute: Constructive Dialogue Institute develops evidence-based communication curricula, facilitator training, and online tools for navigating disagreement. Its educational focus and skills-based approach make it comparable to Braver Angels' depolarization workshops and AI coaching platform.
• More in Common: More in Common operates international research, campaigns, and grassroots programs designed to reduce polarization and build social cohesion. Its national and community-level bridge-building work closely overlaps Braver Angels' depolarization mission and programmatic model.
• Listen First Project: Listen First Project is a nonprofit focused on building understanding and trust through listening across political, social, and cultural divides. Its coalition and dialogue-driven model is comparable to Braver Angels' workshops, events, and volunteer-led bridge-building.
• Living Room Conversations: Living Room Conversations facilitates structured peer-to-peer conversations on potentially polarizing topics using trained moderators and conversation guides. Its focus on constructive dialogue and discovering common ground directly mirrors Braver Angels' core 1:1 and workshop experiences.
• One Small Step: One Small Step, an initiative of StoryCorps, pairs strangers with opposing views for recorded one-on-one conversations intended to humanize the other side. It is a close analogue to Braver Angels' structured cross-partisan 1:1 conversation format.
• Heterodox Academy: Heterodox Academy is a network of educators and scholars promoting viewpoint diversity, open inquiry, and constructive disagreement. Its campus-oriented civil-discourse mission substantially overlaps Braver Angels' educational depolarization work.
• BridgeUSA: BridgeUSA builds student-led, cross-partisan campus communities that encourage open dialogue and cooperation. It is directly comparable to Braver Angels' Braver Education programs, college debates, and student partnerships.
• Interfaith America: Interfaith America equips leaders and institutions to bridge religious and political differences through dialogue and relationship building. Its use of faith communities, structured programs, and facilitator development is comparable to Braver Angels' Braver Faith vertical.

Others

• Cortico: Cortico builds technology and measurement infrastructure for local conversation networks seeking to strengthen civic understanding. It is comparable to Braver Angels as an enabling platform and partner for scaling cross-difference community engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/braverangels
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtlZ4t6aS4rAJoPyYD9DGLA
• Facebookfacebook.com/braverangels
• Instagraminstagram.com/braverangels

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Braver Angels